Reading a portrait of Adam at the start of the inquests in 2014, his mum Janet said: “Adam died on 15 April 1989 after becoming unconscious in his dad Eddie’s arms.

“Eddie also lost consciousness and woke up in hospital the next day to be told that the son he had tried so desperately hard to save was dead.”

She added: “Adam and his dad were friends as well as father and son and Eddie struggled to forgive himself for not saving Adam.

“He would say it was his job to protect Adam and he failed.

“Sadly, Eddie died three years ago, without really knowing that his efforts in helping to fight for a new inquest were coming to fruition.”

Joan Traynor

Joan Traynor and son John Traynor set off for London to meet Home Secretary Jack Straw to hear his decision on a new Hillsborough inquiry

Joan Traynor, mum of victims Kevin, 16, and Christopher, 26, was a founding member of the Hillsborough Family Support Group (HFSG) and the committee treasurer.

She died in 2010 at the age of 77.

At the time of her death HFSG chairman Margaret Aspinall said: “Joan was one of the founding members who got us all together.

“She worked tirelessly for 20 years and was a marvellous treasurer. She lost two sons but had so much compassion.

“She was a wonderful person and a good friend.”

Maureen Church

Maureen and David Church at the Hillsborough Memorial at Anfield. Their son Gary Church was killed at Hillsborough when he was 19 years old.

Maureen, who died of cancer aged 57, lost 19-year-old son Gary in the disaster.

She and husband Dave were founder members of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign when it formed in 1998.

The Southport-born mum-of-four relentlessly pursued a legal case to find out what had happened to Gary but when she died all she knew about his death came from a survivor who heard his cry for help in the pen.

Brenda Hewitt

Brenda Hewitt, whose two sons Carl, 17, and Nick, 16, died in the disaster, prepared a background statement about her sons which was read at the start of the inquests.

But, when individual evidence about the brothers was heard in July 2015, counsel to the inquests Christina Lambert QC told the court: “Brenda has now recently died.”

In the statement which was read at the start of the inquests, Brenda said: “The memories of Carl and Nick are too many to list, in particular we have happy memories of family caravan holidays and Christmas, which Nick loved. Just being a normal happy family.”

Michael Thompson

Stuart Thompson from Formby, who was 17 when he was killed at Hillsborough

Michael Thompson, whose 17-year-old son Stuart died in the tragedy, wrote a personal portrait of his son to be read at the new inquests.

But, sadly he died before he had the chance to read it.

The statement was instead read by the family’s legal representative Leanne Dunne.

Speaking at the start of the inquests in 2014, she told the court: “This is a statement of Michael Thompson.

“He wrote this statement in August last year. Unfortunately, he passed away earlier this year.”

Stan and Daphne Roberts

Graham Roberts, who was 24 when he died at Hillsborough

Graham Roberts, the son of Stan and Daphne, was 24 when he died at Hillsborough.

Graham’s sister Sue is secretary of the Hillsborough Family Support Group.

She told the ECHO: “My dad died in March 2009, just before the 20th anniversary, so he didn’t know any of this was going to happen.

“My mum died on February 29, 2012.

“Occasionally when I’m at the inquests I’ll hear something and think I’ve got to go home and tell my mum and dad that. Obviously I can’t.”